Smoking to the Bottom of the Bowl.

[steelarts]

This is something I’ve always had difficulty with. I now pack my pipe as instructed with the 3 layer method and I’m now using the “breath” method to smoke (which I find greatly reduces tongue bite and the number of relights) but I’ve never been able to smoke the baccy at the bottom of the pipe bowl. Every time I clean it out there’s always some tobacco left unsmoked. I’ve tried relighting to no avail and nothing seems to work. I detest wasting tobacco especially as it’s so expensive, so what am I doing wrong? Is my first layer too lightly packed? Help, please!

 

[Old Smokey]

Make sure you're tamping during your smoke. I get ash every time.

 

[camaguey]

I suggest you to pack with only two layers and not tight. Then go gentle with the tamper in order to avoid too much pressure on the bottom. In the last third or fourth do not tamp at all. You can check if you have unburned tobacco with the pick of a smoking tool.

 

[RexHiemis]

I have the same, and I thought that was normal. Whatever I do, there is always a layer of tobacco at the bottom of the bowl. When I lit it to smoke, it tastes very bitter.

 

[proteus]

I smoke until it keeps going out won't stay lit. Then I dump and always just a few flakes. I smoke dry tobacco. Virginias, burleys, and Virginia blends. Aros I smoke I get a small blob called dottle.

 

[tbradsim1]

Getting to the btm way overrated in everything.

 

[steelarts]

I smoke until it keeps going out won't stay lit. Then I dump and always just a few flakes. I smoke dry tobacco. Virginias, burleys, and Virginia blends. Aros I smoke I get a small blob called dottle.

Same here. Good to know others experience simliar issues and its not necessarily me doing something wrong.

 

[ThermionicScott]

The 3-layer method always results in too much tobacco, packed too tight, for me. I've abandoned it and have much better smokes with a lighter pack.

 

[jbfrady]

This is something I’ve always had difficulty with. I now pack my pipe as instructed with the 3 layer method and I’m now using the “breath” method to smoke (which I find greatly reduces tongue bite and the number of relights) but I’ve never been able to smoke the baccy at the bottom of the pipe bowl. Every time I clean it out there’s always some tobacco left unsmoked. I’ve tried relighting to no avail and nothing seems to work. I detest wasting tobacco especially as it’s so expensive, so what am I doing wrong? Is my first layer too lightly packed? Help, please!

Is the result the same across all pipes you own? I tend to smoke all the way to the bottom. Not because I intended to do that, but because I'm an old man at heart and I took to smoking a pipe quite readily. I've even won a long smoke.

All that to say... apart from techniques as pertain to packing, puffing, tamping, and lighting... some pipes just won't allow a full smoke based on how they're drilled. I've even got one pipe from a rather well known artisan which burns straight down the middle without smoking the tobacco along the walls of the bowl, no matter how many times you light it. I've got a couple others which always leave a little bed of slightly charred yet unburned leaf at the bottom.

 

[proteus]

I've called the very small amount of tobacco left at the bottom in terms of non stop tobacco, the pipes share. I mean it's probably only a tiny bit of flake. That's the pipes share. The offering made to the pipe for a good smoke.

 

[kcghost]

It isn't a big deal to not get too the bottom of bowl. Don't let the guys who brag about it like they have achieved something. Some guys just like bragging and usually at somebody's expense.

 

[jpmcwjr]

There's a very practical matter here few discuss, It's that smoking to the bottom dries the pipe better than days or weeks sitting on a rack.

So, I always try to do so, and if the pipe is telling me it needs cleaning due to a bitter taste, I gently exhale through the stem to keep the ember going. Then a hot water flush and a deep cleanse.

 

[didimauw]

I give the dottle at the bottom usually two or 3 attempts to stay lit. After that it gets dumped.

 

[JustAregularPiper]

The 3-layer method always results in too much tobacco, packed too tight, for me. I've abandoned it and have much better smokes with a lighter pack.

I have problems with the 3 layer method as well. What method do you use? I have started to experiment with the frank/German method and have had better results but still haven’t gotten the hang of packing.

 

[JustAregularPiper]

I found this the other day discussing this subject and it made me feel better about the way I am smoking.

Smoking Your Pipe To The Bottom Of The Bowl | Smokingpipes.com

Should you smoke your pipe to the bottom of the bowl? We're covering the question with advice from a range of expert pipemakers.

www.smokingpipes.com

 

[jpmcwjr]

I have problems with the 3 layer method as well. What method do you use? I have started to experiment with the frank/German method and have had better results but still haven’t gotten the hang of packing.

I've written this several times before you joined here, but it's simple: You do not need a "technique" for loading a pipe if the tobacco is properly dry. Just load it, tamp with finger medium pressure, light and enjoy. You'll tamp lightly as you smoke it down.

 

[JustAregularPiper]

I've written this several times before you joined here, but it's simple: You do not need a "technique" for loading a pipe if the tobacco is properly dry. Just load it, tamp with finger medium pressure, light and enjoy. You'll tamp lightly as you smoke it down.

I appreciate that advice sir.

 

[orlandofurioso]

I intentionally never do so and imho it is also grandly overrated. The bottom is where the pipe
gets hottest and wettest when smoking all the way through and where most burn outs occur.
Not only to the bottom, but also to the drafthole ( drafthole ? )
I cleaned out so many pipes with serious burn issues in that area and repairing it is a pain.
And why would you actually ? There's nothing to it and the're plenty of ugly statues already .
So don't be stingy and dump the nasty bits

 

[sablebrush52]

This is something I’ve always had difficulty with. I now pack my pipe as instructed with the 3 layer method and I’m now using the “breath” method to smoke (which I find greatly reduces tongue bite and the number of relights) but I’ve never been able to smoke the baccy at the bottom of the pipe bowl. Every time I clean it out there’s always some tobacco left unsmoked. I’ve tried relighting to no avail and nothing seems to work. I detest wasting tobacco especially as it’s so expensive, so what am I doing wrong? Is my first layer too lightly packed? Help, please!

You’re not doing anything wrong. I don’t know where this “burn every last atom of tobacco” BS comes from, but it’s one of the dumbest and potentially destructive of piping myths.
The last few strands are getting hit with steam, oils, tars etc.. It takes quite a bit of heat at the bottom of the chamber to burn that little bit, heat that will eventually cause damage to the pipe in the lower part of the chamber.

 

[jpmcwjr]

There's a world of difference between ignorantly blow torching the heel and airway and simply smoking to the bottom. You can do so only if the tobacco isn't wet. Just don't force it!

The benefit is large: You'll have a nice dry chamber.